Andrew Tillman will leverage AIAS Board of Directors role to continue his advocacy for architecture students
Andrew Tillman, a fifth-year student in the BArch program, was recently elected to the 69th AIAS Board of Directors in the role of Secretary/Treasurer.
The position plays a vital internal role, overseeing the AIAS operational budget with the Executive Director, recording Board meeting minutes, chairing the Finance Committee, and maintaining the AIAS Board of Directors Drive. The Secretary / Treasurer also works with each AIAS chapter to help connect them with resources and support.
As a full voting member of the board, Tillman is most looking forward to representing architecture students’ voices across the globe.
“I wanted to run to have the opportunity to push the voices of students. I think it’s important for students to push design and to voice their opinions,” Tillman said.
Advocating for students has been a throughline in Tillman’s college career, embodied in a variety of leadership roles with the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Tillman served as SARUP’s 2023 AIAS chapter president, followed by his current one-year term as Midwest Quadrant Director for 2024. In that role, Tillman helps roughly 50 Midwest chapters connect with resources available through the organization.
“At SARUP, we have a very good connection with AIA in Wisconsin, and that allows us to access sponsorships through firms and other professional networking opportunities,” Tillman said. “When I got in the Midwest Quad director role, I found that a lot of chapters don’t have strong connection, or they don’t know who’s leading their AIA component.”
Tillman has worked hard to connect chapters so students can benefit fully from the organization. He hopes to do the same on a much larger scale with his new role, with 250 chapters within his reach. |
“I think that’s really valuable to have a connection to the profession, as well as having students relate to professionals to help get jobs. You can be a great student, but I think really getting out there and meeting with professionals is what helps you flourish as a student. Knowing what careers are out there is important.”
Tillman knows firsthand how influential connections can be for young people. His introduction to the architecture field started as a high school student in Woodstock, Illinois, when he took a civil engineering and architecture course. While designing a library and house, he recognized he has a real passion for design. His teacher noticed, too. He encouraged him to continue with another second class, even giving him a special design project assignment to complete.
“That’s when I really knew I wanted to do this,” he recalled. “So, I applied to UWM. It’s the only school I applied to.”
Advocating for students isn’t likely to end when Tillman graduates. As an intern at Zimmerman Architecture Students, Tilllman has been working on designing schools for K12 and higher education, along with places of worship. Recently, he accepted a full-time job at the firm.
His first day is the day after graduation.
